The recently announced one-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has been met with cautious optimism by South Africa’s citrus industry. However, according to the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA), the reality on the ground tells a more complex story.

By Maile Matsimela, Digital Editor at African Farming

The CGA says despite AGOA’s renewal, South African citrus exporters find themselves in a peculiar position where the act’s benefits remain largely theoretical. The association explains that under current legal interpretations, White House-imposed tariffs take precedence over AGOA benefits, effectively nullifying the trade advantages the act was designed to provide.

Also read: ‘AGOA is dead, now look ahead and make other plans’

“The AGOA extension currently has no meaningful effect on growers’ planning for the coming season,” explains Gerrit van der Merwe, chairperson of the CGA. “The situation remains somewhat uncertain.”

A Tale of Two Fruits

The citrus industry’s experience with US trade policy has been decidedly mixed over the past year. In a welcome development last November, oranges received an exemption from the punitive 30% US tariffs, allowing them to enter the American market duty-free. This reprieve has provided crucial relief to orange growers, particularly in the Western Cape and Northern Cape regions, where there is a strong dependence on the US market.

Also read: South Africa’s AGOA future increasingly uncertain

However, mandarins tell a different story. Despite their popularity among American consumers, these fruits remain subject to the full 30% tariff burden, a situation that threatens to significantly impact growers as the 2026 season approaches in April.

The Counter-seasonal Advantage

Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele, CEO of the CGA, emphasises the strategic value of South African citrus in the American market. “SA supplies mandarins counter-seasonally to America, so we do not threaten US production or jobs,” he points out. “In fact, we help keep consumers in the category year-round with our high-quality and healthy citrus, handing the consumers over to fellow growers in states like California and Florida at the end of our season.”

This counter-seasonal supply model should theoretically make South African citrus complementary rather than competitive to US production. Yet the tariff structure fails to recognise this symbiotic relationship.

Community Impact

The implications extend far beyond individual farms. The CGA says towns like Citrusdal serve as stark reminders of how deeply intertwined local livelihoods are with US market access. “These communities have built their economies around citrus production, making trade disruptions a matter of survival rather than mere profit margins.”

The CGA warns that applying tariffs to mandarins risks creating “price spikes, supply shortages and inflationary pressure in the US” – outcomes that benefit neither American consumers nor South African producers.